Weekly Update

This Week In The Seanad – This week in the Seanad a debate was held on the Companies Bill 2012, as well as the Public Health (Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 and the Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill 2013. There were also statements on the 750th Anniversary of the first Irish Parliament: http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/06/19/this-week-in-the-seanad-23/

Speaking at COSAC – This week I attended COSAC (Conference of members from parliamentary committees responsible for European Union affairs) in my capacity as a member of the Oireachtas European Affairs Committee as well as being Seanad spokesperson on European Affairs. You can read my speech here – http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/06/17/noone-speech-to-cosac/

Ice Creams Whip Up A Frenzy – Last week I made a statement about childhood obesity, an issue which is becoming increasingly serious in this country, which received widespread attention because I mentioned a number of measures which could be undertaken, including the regulation of how ice cream vans sell to people. You can read my letter to the Irish Times here where I set the record straight http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/06/19/irish-times-letter/

Outlawing Rogue Clampers A Welcome Move – I was delighted that the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar last week introduced a law which will deal with rogue clamping practices, a move which was promised in the Programme for Government. The lack of transparency and accountability in this sector has caused headaches for a great many motorists, and I hope this new law will remedy this – http://catherinenoone.ie/2014/06/19/noone-welcomes-new-clamping-laws/